All questions of Hornbill for Humanities/Arts Exam

Grandmother’s reaction when the author was going abroad was not even sentimental. This can be explained through the following points:

Lack of emotional display: Grandmother did not show any emotions when the author was going abroad. She did not express her happiness or sadness, which suggests that she did not have any significant attachment or concern for the author.

Possible reasons for lack of emotions: There could be various reasons for grandmother’s lack of emotions, such as:

- She might have been used to the idea of family members going abroad for studies or work and did not find it a big deal.
- She might have been emotionally distant or reserved and did not express her feelings easily.
- She might have been preoccupied with her own concerns or problems and did not pay much attention to the author’s departure.

Implications of grandmother’s reaction: Grandmother’s lack of emotions could have different implications for the author, such as:

- The author might have felt neglected or unimportant in grandmother’s eyes, which could have affected their relationship.
- The author might have felt relieved or liberated from the burden of emotional attachments, which could have given them more freedom to pursue their goals abroad.
- The author might have felt confused or uncertain about their own emotions, as they did not receive any validation or support from grandmother.

In conclusion, grandmother’s reaction when the author was going abroad was not even sentimental, which could have different reasons and implications for the author.

The goldfinch’s movement is compared to a lizard. The basis for the comparison is that it is sleek, abrupt and alert like a lizard. The same kinds of movements are observed when the goldfinch arrives on the laburnum tree.

The grandmother spent her final hours praying and telling her beads.

Reasoning:

The given options suggest that the grandmother was either talking to everyone in the house, worrying about everyone, went to the temple, or silently praying and telling her beads in her final hours. Out of these options, it is mentioned in the story that the grandmother spent her time in prayer. Therefore, option C is the correct answer.

Explanation:

The story "The Portrait of a Lady" by Khushwant Singh revolves around the life of an aristocratic family in India, and how the grandmother, who is the matriarch of the family, deals with the changes happening around her. In the end, the grandmother falls ill and is on her deathbed. The family members are gathered around her, waiting for her to pass away.

During her final hours, the grandmother is seen praying and telling her beads silently. This suggests that she is preparing herself for the afterlife and seeking blessings from the almighty. The author describes the scene as follows:

"The old lady lay with her eyes closed, her lips moving in prayer. From time to time, she would touch her beads and whisper a prayer. The family members watched her silently, hoping for a peaceful end to her suffering."

This shows the religious and spiritual nature of the grandmother, who has always been portrayed as a pious and devout person throughout the story. Her final moments reflect her belief in the power of prayer and her faith in God.

The poet's mother was nearly twelve years old when the photograph was clicked. However, there is no mention of what was the age of the poet's mother when she died. All we know is that she has been dead for as long as twelve years now.

Professor Gaitonde was travelling from Pune to Bombay via the Jijamata Express, a train which was faster than the Deccan Queen.

In the poem, the poet asks the soft-falling shower, 'Who are you? ' to which she replies that she is the poem of earth. It falls back on the surface of the earth to provide water to the drought-prone areas and to beautify and purify the earth (its birthplace).

The goldfinch entered the thickness of the laburnum tree because it had to reach its nest where its young ones were waiting to be fed by her. The lines that support the answer are 'a machine starts up', 'of chitterlings and a tremor of wings and trilling'.

The leaves of the Laburnum tree had turned yellow. The seeds too had fallen down. However her body which was yellow in color made her barely visible as it would mix with the color of the leaves which too was yellow in color.

And the laburnum subsides to empty. After reaching the end of the branch, the bird makes a sweet chirping sound just like whispering and flies away towards the infinite sky. It again makes the Laburnum tree silent and death-like.

After the goldfinch arrives on the tree, the silent and still Laburnum tree suddenly starts trembling and moving. The whole tree comes to life as the chicks of the goldfinch make a lot of noise as they chitter and trill on seeing their mother.

The song issues from the heart of the poet and travels to reach others. It wanders and, whether heard and enjoyed or not, eventually returns to its creator with all due love. Similarly, rain originates from the earth, and after fulfilling its role of spreading beauty and purity, returns to its origin.

The poem “The Laburnum Top” by Ted Hughes describes the mutual relation between a Laburnum Tree and a goldfinch. Both of them are yellow in colour (the tree is yellow because of its flowers) and quite beautiful in appearance. The Laburnum Tree is beautiful, large but quite silent and getting naked because of winter.

The phrase means that the bird's barred or covered face becomes her identity mask for recognition. Reference to Context 1. A few leaves yellowing, all its seeds fallen Till the goldfinch comes, with a twitching chirrup A suddenness, a startlement, at a branch end.

Its leaves had turned yellow and seeds had fallen down. It was a daytime in the month of September when the tree was standing still and death-like. The life-less tree becomes alive by the arrival of the Goldfinch bird. The tree is her shelter.

Alliteration in "stood still to smile", "terribly transient" and "silence silences". Transferred Epithet in "Washed their terribly transient feet". Oxymoron in "laboured ease".

The author went to study at the English School in motor bus in the city. This information is mentioned in the passage, where the author describes his daily routine of traveling to school. Let's break down the answer into headings and HTML bullet points:

Heading: Author's Daily Routine
- The author mentions that he used to wake up early in the morning.
- He then got ready for school and left his house to catch a motor bus.
- The motor bus took him to the English School in the city, where he went to study.

Heading: Mode of Transportation
- The author traveled to school by motor bus.
- This mode of transportation was convenient for him as it saved him time and effort.

Heading: School Details
- The author studied at the English School in the city.
- This school is mentioned specifically, indicating that it was an important part of the author's life.

In conclusion, the author went to study at the English School in the city, and he traveled there by motor bus. This information is important in understanding the author's daily routine and the role of education in his life.

Shirley Toulson's poem 'A Photograph' is a loving tribute to her mother. The poem reflects the passage of time and its three stages. In the first stage, the photograph shows his mother enjoying a holiday on a beach along with her two girl cousins. She was 12 at the time.

On the way to Mount Kailash the turn become sharper and the road bumpier. The author felt pressure building up in his ears. After struggling round, at another tight bend, Tsetan stop the car and jump out of it because there was a barrier. The track was covered by snow.

The tree makes a sudden chirrup sound upon the bird's arrival. He compares the quickness, speed and alertness of the bird to that of a lizard. When she starts moving towards the thickness of the branch, the nestlings start chirping and flapping their wings.

The poet's mother was cheerful person. She enjoyed her childhood days with her cousins,which is evident in the photograph of the sea holiday that they had once enjoyed. Even after 20 or 30 years,the poet's mother finds happiness in recalling the past by looking at the photograph of the sea holiday with her cousins.

A

The author's grandfather's portrait was placed above the mantelpiece. This is evident from the following line in the passage: "The portrait of my grandfather, in his military uniform, hung above the mantelpiece in the living room." Let's break this down into headings and bullet points for better understanding:

Location of the portrait:
- The portrait was placed above the mantelpiece.

Description of the portrait:
- The portrait depicted the author's grandfather.
- The grandfather was in his military uniform in the portrait.

Location of the living room:
- The living room is not specified in the passage.

Overall, the author's grandfather's portrait was placed prominently in the living room and given a place of honor above the mantelpiece.

They removed hair from their face and stood smiling in the shallow water near the beach. Betty and Dolly stood on either side of the poetess's mother, holding one of her hands.

B

Because the birds feel bad for frandmother

The beach holiday was her mother's favourite past memories.

C) January 2

Mayday Call

Mayday call is a distress call for help used in emergency situations, primarily by aircraft and marine vessels. It is a signal of extreme danger and indicates that the vessel or aircraft requires immediate assistance to prevent the loss of life or damage to the property.

Origin of Mayday Call

The term Mayday comes from the French word "M'aidez" which means "help me". It was first used in radio communications in 1923 by a British pilot Frederick Stanley Mockford. He suggested the word Mayday as it sounded like the French word and was easy to understand in international radio communications.

When to Use Mayday Call

Mayday call is used in emergency situations where the vessel or aircraft is in danger and needs immediate assistance. It is used when there is a threat to the safety of the crew or passengers, or when there is a risk of damage to the vessel or aircraft.

How to Make Mayday Call

Mayday call is made on the radio using the international distress signal "Mayday, Mayday, Mayday". It is repeated three times to ensure that the message is understood. The call is followed by the name of the vessel or aircraft, its location, and the nature of the emergency. The call is then repeated until a response is received.

Conclusion

Mayday call is a distress call for help used in emergency situations. It is important to use the Mayday call correctly and only in emergency situations to avoid false alarms. It is also important to have proper communication equipment and knowledge of radio communications to make a Mayday call effectively.

Zahi Hawass said “The mummy is in very bad condition because of what Carter did in the 1920s”.

Explanation:

- Zahi Hawass is an Egyptian archaeologist and Egyptologist who served as the Minister of State for Antiquities Affairs in Egypt.
- He is known for his work in the field of Egyptology and has been involved in many significant archaeological discoveries in Egypt.
- In this statement, he is referring to the mummy of Tutankhamun, the famous Egyptian pharaoh whose tomb was discovered by Howard Carter in 1922.
- Hawass is suggesting that Carter's handling of the mummy during the excavation process may have contributed to its poor condition.
- The mummy of Tutankhamun has been the subject of much scientific study and analysis over the years, and experts have identified a number of factors that have contributed to its deteriorated state, including exposure to air, humidity, and improper storage.
- However, Hawass's comment specifically highlights the role that Carter may have played in damaging the mummy during the initial excavation.

Correct answer is:- (d) he sensed that he could use his mind in creative work.

Refrain "Where did my childhood go?" Refrain is a set of words ,or a group of lines that appear in the poem where a poem divides into different sections.In the same manner here "where did my childhood go?" is the line which divide the poem in different stanzas. I think the answer is personification.

Reasons for the Exploitation of the Environment: Increasing Population

One of the key reasons for the exploitation of the environment is the increasing population. The growing number of people on our planet has put immense pressure on natural resources and ecosystems. Let's delve deeper into this reason:

1. Resource Consumption:
- As the population expands, the demand for resources such as food, water, energy, and raw materials increases.
- This leads to overexploitation of natural resources, including deforestation for agriculture, mining activities, and excessive water extraction.
- The extraction and consumption of these resources often involve environmentally damaging practices, contributing to habitat destruction, pollution, and loss of biodiversity.

2. Urbanization and Infrastructure:
- Rapid urbanization is a consequence of population growth, resulting in the expansion of cities and the creation of new infrastructure.
- Constructing buildings, roads, and other infrastructure requires clearing land, which leads to habitat loss and fragmentation.
- Urbanization also generates increased waste and pollution, further burdening the environment.

3. Agricultural Expansion:
- With the growing population, there is a need to produce more food to meet the demand.
- This has led to the expansion of agricultural activities, often through deforestation and conversion of natural habitats into farmland.
- The use of intensive farming practices, including the excessive use of pesticides and fertilizers, has negative consequences such as soil degradation, water pollution, and loss of biodiversity.

4. Increased Energy Consumption:
- As the population increases, so does the demand for energy.
- Fossil fuels, such as coal, oil, and natural gas, have been the primary sources of energy for decades.
- The extraction and burning of these fuels contribute to air pollution, greenhouse gas emissions, and climate change.

5. Waste Generation:
- A larger population generates more waste, including plastics, electronic waste, and other non-biodegradable materials.
- Improper disposal of waste leads to pollution of land, water bodies, and the atmosphere.
- Waste management systems struggle to keep up with the increasing volume of waste, further straining the environment.

In conclusion, the increasing population is one of the significant reasons for the exploitation of the environment. The higher demand for resources, urban expansion, agricultural activities, energy consumption, and waste generation all contribute to the depletion of natural resources, habitat destruction, pollution, and climate change. Addressing these challenges requires sustainable practices, efficient resource management, and population control measures to ensure a healthier and more balanced relationship with the environment.

Explanation:

The given statement is from the story "The Portrait of a Lady" by Khushwant Singh. In the story, the author's grandmother was unhappy about his new English School because she didn't understand English and could no longer help him with the lessons. This can be explained in the following points:

- The author's grandmother was an illiterate woman who couldn't read or write in any language. She was from a traditional Punjabi family where education was not given much importance. Therefore, she didn't know English, which was the medium of instruction in the author's new school.

- The author's grandmother was proud of her grandson's progress in studies and always helped him with his homework. But after he joined the English School, she felt helpless as she couldn't understand the language and couldn't assist him with his studies.

- The author's grandmother felt left out and insignificant because of her inability to understand English. She felt that her grandson was moving away from her and becoming a part of a new world that she couldn't relate to.

- The author's grandmother was also worried about the impact of English education on her grandson's cultural identity. She feared that he would forget his roots and become a "foreigner" in his own land.

In conclusion, the author's grandmother was unhappy about the new English School because she felt excluded from her grandson's education and feared the loss of his cultural identity.

Within a cloud, water droplets condense onto one another, causing the droplets to grow. When these water droplets get too heavy to stay suspended in the cloud, they fall to Earth as rain. Water vapor turns into clouds when it cools and condenses—that is, turns back into liquid water or ice.

From the sky it pours down on earth to wash the dry tiny particles and dust layers of the earth. The rain helps the unborn seeds to sprout. These seeds lay hidden and unborn under the layers of earth. Rain gives back life to its origin making it pure and beautiful.

The three stanzas depict three different phases.

The phrase means that the bird's barred or covered face becomes her identity mask recognition.

Reck'd or unreck'd in the poem by walt whitman means whether you cared for the sound of the rains or not , whether somebody listened to the sound the rain made or not,it does not affect the rains and neither does it affects the poet. In both the case the sound is cherished by the poet and the rain with love.

‘Cardboard’ refers to the photograph only. In the past photographs used to be fixed on a cardboard and hung from the wall for everyone to see it.

Washed their terribly transient feet' Transient means something which is temporary or short-lived. Here, when the author says terribly transient feet, she refers to the ever changing imprints of the feet left on the sea sand. The sea never appears to change but the human life is transient.

The goldfinch came to laburnum tree to build a nest on it so that she can feed her young ones. The chitterings of the young ones and their movement brought life in the tree.

The poet of the poem 'Father to Son' is Elizabeth Jennings.

Elizabeth Jennings was an English poet who was known for her introspective and emotional poetry. She often explored themes of love, loss, and the complexities of human relationships in her work. 'Father to Son' is one of her well-known poems, which reflects on the strained relationship between a father and son.

The poem 'Father to Son' is a deeply emotional and reflective piece that explores the generational divide between a father and his son. It delves into the complexities of their relationship, highlighting the differences in their perspectives and experiences. The father is portrayed as a figure who is distant and unable to express his emotions, while the son is depicted as someone who is seeking understanding and connection.

The poem is written in the form of a dialogue, with the father addressing his son directly. The father's voice is authoritative and filled with regret, as he reflects on his own failures and shortcomings. He acknowledges the difficulties he faced in expressing his love and emotions, and admits that he was unable to bridge the gap between them.

The son, on the other hand, is portrayed as someone who is trying to break free from the constraints of his father's expectations. He longs for a deeper connection and understanding, but feels stifled by the distance between them. The poem explores the son's struggle to find his own identity and forge his own path, while still yearning for his father's acceptance.

Overall, 'Father to Son' is a poignant and introspective poem that delves into the complexities of the father-son relationship. Elizabeth Jennings' skillful use of language and imagery captures the emotional depth of this dynamic, leaving the reader with a profound sense of longing and understanding.

The son resembles his father physically, yet he had his own vision, dreams and aspiration. He is not home bound and is not afraid to venture forth. The protective father is willing to forgive him for incurring loss of material wealth provided he returns home. The painful experience of lack of communication fills the father with utter helplessness, anger and grief. His efforts to restore the relationship fail as there is no response from the other side.

The three girls, poet's mother with her two cousins Betty and Dolly were enjoying . And they seem to be very happy. All the three girls were smiling. They were laughing when the photo was taken and seem to have no worries.

Symbolism of the Poetess's Mother in the Poem
The photograph of the poetess's mother serves as a powerful symbol within the poem, highlighting themes of resilience amidst life's challenges.
Emotional Connection
- The image evokes deep emotional responses, representing the poetess's affection and admiration for her mother.
- It signifies the strength inherited from her mother, showcasing how familial bonds can empower individuals to navigate difficulties.
Resilience in Adversity
- The mother’s presence in the photograph signifies enduring strength, suggesting that she has faced numerous challenges throughout her life.
- It reflects the ability to withstand hardships, embodying the spirit of survival and perseverance.
Inspiration for the Poetess
- The poetess draws inspiration from her mother’s resilience, motivating her to confront her own struggles.
- The photograph serves as a reminder of the lessons learned from her mother, reinforcing the importance of resilience.
Legacy of Strength
- The symbolism extends to the legacy passed down through generations, emphasizing how resilience is a valued trait within the family.
- The mother’s experiences and strength are a guiding force for the poetess, encouraging her to embrace challenges with courage.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the photograph of the poetess's mother symbolizes resilience in the face of challenges. It encapsulates the enduring strength of women, the emotional bond between mother and daughter, and the inspiration that can be drawn from familial ties. The poem ultimately celebrates the power of resilience, offering a poignant reflection on the human spirit.

Grasslands are ecosystems characterized by the presence of grasses as the dominant vegetation. They are found in various regions around the world and play a crucial role in supporting biodiversity, regulating water cycles, and providing habitats for numerous species. However, if these ecosystems become unsustainable, they can undergo significant changes, ultimately turning into barren wastelands.

1. Unsustainability of Grassland Systems:
When grassland systems become unsustainable, it means that they are no longer able to support the natural processes and functions that maintain their ecological balance. This unsustainability can arise due to various factors, including human activities such as overgrazing, deforestation, and intensive agriculture, as well as natural disturbances like droughts and climate change.

2. Loss of Vegetation:
One of the key consequences of unsustainable grassland systems is the loss of vegetation, particularly grasses. This can occur due to factors like overgrazing by livestock or the conversion of grasslands into croplands or urban areas. As the grasses decline, the overall productivity of the ecosystem decreases, leading to a loss of habitat for both plant and animal species.

3. Soil Degradation:
Unsustainable practices can also lead to soil degradation in grassland systems. Overgrazing, for example, can result in the removal of too much vegetation, exposing the soil to erosion by wind and water. This erosion can lead to the loss of topsoil, which contains essential nutrients necessary for plant growth. As a result, the soil quality deteriorates, making it less capable of supporting grassland vegetation.

4. Loss of Biodiversity:
Grasslands are known for their rich biodiversity, providing habitats for a wide range of plant and animal species. However, when grassland systems become unsustainable, the loss of vegetation and soil degradation can have severe impacts on biodiversity. Many species may lose their habitats or struggle to find adequate resources for survival, leading to declines in population numbers and even local extinctions.

5. Transformation into Barren Wasteland:
If unsustainable practices persist and no measures are taken to restore the grassland ecosystems, they can eventually transform into barren wastelands. Without the presence of grasses and other vegetation, the soil becomes exposed and vulnerable to erosion. This erosion further degrades the soil, making it inhospitable for plant growth. Eventually, the area may become a barren wasteland, devoid of any significant vegetation or wildlife.

In conclusion, if grassland systems become unsustainable, they can turn into barren wastelands due to the loss of vegetation, soil degradation, loss of biodiversity, and subsequent erosion. It is crucial to adopt sustainable practices and conservation efforts to prevent such transformations and preserve the valuable functions and biodiversity of grassland ecosystems.